Local food gift ideas

It's that time of year--time for gifts. Lots and lots of gifts. Why not some food gifts?

Over at WCCO, I wrote about Minnesota gifts in general and included a couple of food ideas.

Sapsucker Farms, up above, has wonderful locally produced honey and organic maple syrup. (I speak from personal experience.) Order now, and you'll have it in plenty of time. And remember--I actually helped (sort of) with the maple syrup process there this year.

Locally made wine--yes, there is such a thing! You could give a gift from Minnesota's oldest winery, the Alexis Bailly Vineyard outside of Hastings. For a complete list of Minnesota wineries, check out this site.

If there's a coffee lover on your list, you can't go wrong with Peace Coffee. It's my brew of choice every morning.

Cheese lovers are easy to buy for too. Find a tasty goat cheese from Stickney Hill, or some hearty Amablu blue cheese from Faribault Dairy, or a wide variety of cow's milk cheeses from Eichten's, or some lovely artisan cheeses from Pastureland (Pastureland also makes delicious butter). Note: you can contact the producers directly, or check with one of the many fine food co-ops around the Twin Cities, as often you'll find them available in the stores.

Minneapolis and St. Paul both have wonderful local food shops that have a wealth of gift opportunities. In Minneapolis' North Loop, check out Local D'Lish, where you can choose from a wide selection of locally made pastas, salsas and sauces, sweets, or perhaps a gift card for a cooking class. On St. Paul's Grand Avenue, the Golden Fig has a great collection of local foods and can custom-build a gift box for you. Be sure to check out their local cookbook section as well.

And gee, as long as you're buying fine local foods for others for Christmas, don't you deserve some for yourself too?

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Amy Rea

Flyover Land , by Amy Rea, is about the best of Minnesota, and why you shouldn't just fly over.

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